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Arts & Culture

The cultural life and treasures of New Jersey have never been more abundant than now, at the dawn of the 21st Century. With more than 700 arts organizations making their home here, every region is bursting with music, theater, dance, film, fine art and cultural exhibits.

The New Jersey Performing Arts Center in Newark sets the stage for breathtaking and diverse performances by national and international stars, Broadway headliners and world famous operas. In Millburn, the renowned Paper Mill Playhouse presents spectacular productions of great American plays and musicals. Other premier performance venues include the Bergen Performing Arts Center in Englewood, The State Theatre in New Brunswick, the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, and the Community Theatre in Morristown. The PNC Bank Arts Center in Homdel along with the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton and the Tweeter Center in Camden present major headliner concerts that include jazz, blues, R&B and Rock & Roll.

For fine art, some of the most acclaimed museums in the Mid Atlantic region are based in New Jersey. The Newark Museum has magnificent collections of American Art and the largest collection of Tibetan Art and artifacts in the western world. The Montclair Art Museum and the Jersey City Museum also present highly regarded exhibitions. The Morris Museum in Morristown mounts diverse exhibitions and presents a full array of special performances including theatre and dance.

New Jersey is the birthplace of the film industry, home to Thomas Edison and his Black Maria Studio and now the Fort Lee Film Commission is a center for the preservation and restoration of some of the greatest films ever made.

Dance lovers have several companies to enjoy including the New Jersey Ballet, the American Repertory Ballet, and the Nai Ni Chen Dance Company. New Jersey also boosts more than 20 professional theatres and the New Jersey Theatre Alliance offers special promotions, calendars and information on all of them.

The Tony Award winning McCarter Theatre Center in Princeton has a complete season of plays, music, dance and special series featuring internationally renowned performers and companies. Other cultural attractions in the area include the Patriots Theatre at the War Memorial, the State Museum and Old Barracks in Trenton. And a broad array of sculpture is displayed at the 35-acre Grounds for Sculpture in Hamilton. Other premier performance venues include The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey.

New Jersey's high-quality musical organizations include The New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, which is a nationally recognized orchestra. The NJ Chamber Music Society, The Haddonfield Symphony, Garden State Philharmonic, and Greater Trenton Symphony are among the many professional orchestras in the state that are sure to please audiences of all ages.

Visitors to the Greater Atlantic City Region will enjoy the Noyes Museum of Art in Oceanville, with its exhibitions of contemporary art and regional folk life. Music, theatre and dance performances at the Stockton Performing Arts Center have become a hallmark of the region along with the annual Cape May Music and Jazz festivals. The Atlantic City Historical Museum presents exhibits like "Starshine: There's No Business Like Show Business in Atlantic City." Nearby at the Garden Pier, the works of immortal painters, sculptors and photographers are on display at the Atlantic City Art Center.

"Doo Wop" lovers of '50s and '60s pop culture will love the Doo Wop Preservation League Museum. And, don't miss Wheaton Village in Millville, home to the Creative Glass Center of America.

The Camden waterfront is home to The Battleship Memorial and Museum at the Battleship New Jersey, and there is also the NJ State Aquarium. History and culture are at the Rutgers Camden Center for the Arts and the South Jersey Performing Arts Center. Both feature a diverse range of acclaimed performers. New Jersey offers visitors a wide variety of cultural experiences. For a complete listing of upcoming cultural events visit www.jerseyarts.com

When visiting the Garden State be sure to Discover Jersey Arts and expect the unexpected!

Atlantic City

It's the area that draws more than 30 million visitors a year to play and enjoy world-class hotel casino resorts, international headline entertainers, premium beaches, the historic Boardwalk, museums, marinas, lighthouses, water sports, great dining, golf, spas, shopping and more.

A season of dance, theatre, music and children's programming awaits all culture enthusiasts at venues like the Stockton Performing Arts Center in Pomona.

Pay a visit to any of the areas museums, each totally unique, including the Children's Museum in Egg Harbor Township with its own television studio, car factory and hospital emergency room.

The Atlantic City Historical Museum is a time capsule of the city's glorious past and present. Find the bizarre at Ripley's Believe It or Not! Museum. Other area museums offer rotating art exhibits and there's the Brigantine Sea Life Museum and Marine Mammal Stranding Center, a hospital and refuge for rescued whales, dolphins, seals and sea turtles.

Fine art can be found at the Atlantic City Art Center with exhibits of oil paintings, acrylics, watercolors, pastels, graphics, photography and sculptures. For antiques and collectibles, Atlantic City captivates even the most discerning browser.

For visitors with a trailer, pop-up, recreational vehicle or motor home the area offers campgrounds to accommodate every need with swimming pools, full hookups, video arcades and more.

Take a step back into the past and tour Gardner's Basin with antiques, eateries, boating, a fisherman's museum and ocean life center.

To capture some adventure of your own, try party boat fishing. Bring some of the past home with you from the 60 colonial shops that grace the Town of Historic Smithville and the nearby Village Green. In Atlantic City, check out The Walk that features outlet stores, shops and restaurants.

And that is just a tiny sampling of the goings on in the Greater Atlantic City Region.

Fun

From the rolling hills of the Skylands to bustling towns along 127 miles of beautiful Atlantic coastline, New Jersey is an ideal family destination filled with endless excitement, education, entertainment and exploration opportunities.

Mountain Creek in Vernon offers a water park, hiking areas, winter skiing and the fabulous Kidz World. The Space Farms Museum and Zoo in Beemerville is another popular stop. Columbia's Lakota Wolf Preserve has wolves, wolf pups, bobcats and foxes all in their natural habitats and Northlandz has the largest miniature railroad in the world.

For younger children there's the Story Land Park at Fairy Tale Forest in Oak Ridge. The Liberty Science Center at Liberty State Park in Jersey City has the country's largest IMAX(r) Dome Theater. And ferry service to the Statue of Liberty and Ellis Island is available from the park.

In Trenton, The State Planetarium offers a look into the deeper regions of space and there's the Old Barracks Museum, made famous by George Washington during the Revolution. The New Jersey State Aquarium in Camden has more than 4,000 aquatic species and children can experience the horticultural playground at the Camden Children's Garden.

For major theme park entertainment Six Flags Great Adventure in Jackson offersthe Hurricane Harbor Water Park and the Wild Safari Animal Park. The boardwalks and beach amusements along the coast feature fun, food and entertainment along with the surf and sand.

For 24-hour gaming excitement, headline entertainment, superior restaurants and shops, there's Atlantic City ~ "America's Favorite Playground." And there's the 4.5-mile boardwalk with the famous Steel Pier. The area features numerous other attractions like the Ocean Life Center, Storybook Land and the Absecon Lighthouse.

The Southern Shore Region is a haven of special events, live shows, concerts, art shows, ethnic festivals and other attractions. The area offers merry-go-rounds, roller coasters, water parks and sky-high Ferris wheels, zoos and the Forsythe's Wildlife Refuge, which are all big attractions.

See for yourself why New Jersey is a favorite destination for family vacations of all ages.

Golf

Golf has always been the perfect blend of so many qualities: relaxation, exercise, skill, fun, competition (and even great food). It all takes place outdoors in stunning natural surroundings.

New Jersey offers more than 200 public and private courses for every level of golfer. For a comprehensive rundown, including specs, photos and directions, go to www.njsga.org. Tee up at the Architects Golf Club in Lopatcong. This 6,863 yard, par 71 masterpiece boasts 18 holes (of course), each designed by a different premier architect. There is also a full service golf shop and the Pub Grille for relaxing afterwards.

Need a new way to experience the links? Try each one of Golf Digest's five top-rated New Jersey courses. Rated number one is the Pine Hill Golf Club designed by Tom Fazio, considered by many to be the top course architect in the country. Occupying the number two spot, Hominy Hill in Colts Neck has played host to many United States Golf Association (USGA) events over the years with its winning combination-legendary history and designed by Robert Trent-Jones, Sr. Taking third place is the Sand Barrens Golf Club in Swainton, recognized as a superior course. Number four is the powerhouse Howell Park Golf Course. Finally, fifth place is Blue Heron Pines West, picked by the USGA to host the 2003 U. S. Public Links Championship.

The Atlantic City region is home to the highest rated courses in New Jersey according to Golf Digest's Places to Play 2002-2003. Golf Magazine says, "In South Jersey the diamond tiara belongs to Harbor Pines." Golf for Women magazine rates it one of the "Top 100 women-friendly courses in the U.S. (Top 3 in NJ)." Book a complete all-inclusive golf vacation or tee time in advance of arrival by calling 1-800-GOLF-222 or going online to www.gacga.com.

If golf is truly in your blood, you will get the transfusion of a lifetime when you visit the USGA Golf House and Museum. With its one-of-a-kind exhibits, it makes for great family fun too! It is the only place in the world where you can see the 1-iron Ben Hogan used in the 1950 U.S. Open and the "out-of-this-world" club used by Apollo 14 astronaut Alan Shepard to hit one giant putt for mankind. The museum exhibits are one thing, but USGA's Testing Facility is another ball altogether. People talk about the "science of the game;" it is here-from the 14,000 square foot lab to the 325-yard outdoor testing range. Get an eyeful of Iron Byron, the mechanical golfer that knocks flawless drives.

Explore all New Jersey golf has to offer and you will agree-it is on a par with the best in the U.S

Sports

The great American pastime of baseball is booming as never before. New Jersey Cardinals fans went wild with excitement as record-setter Johnny Santor broke another one to hold a Cardinals record with three home runs hit in a single game. Meanwhile, outfielder Covelli Crisp has moved from the Class A affiliate to the St. Louis Cardinals. Following all the action is easy at Augusta's Skylands Park Stadium. Double A affiliate of the New York Yankees, the Trenton Thunder team has crowds on their feet at Waterfront Park. Third baseman Kevin Youkilis was named the number 21 prospect on Baseball America's list of the top 25 hottest prospects of the 2002 season. And the hits just keep on coming. Northern League independents, the New Jersey Jackals, will be celebrating their sixth anniversary season in 2003. With George Tsamis being named the 2002 Northern League East Manager of the Year, fans at Yogi Berra Stadium on the Montclair University campus are watching a great team in the making. On August 8, 2002, the Newark Bears set a franchise record for attendance with 6,750 fans on hand at Riverfront Stadium. New Jersey's fans are coming out in record numbers to cheer on their favorite Atlantic League teams-check out the games and make your own pick. Will it be the Somerset Patriots, Camden Riversharks, the Atlantic City Surf, or the Lakewood BlueClaws?

One of the greatest entertainment facilities in the world, the Meadowlands Sports Complex in East Rutherford is home to both the New York Giants and the New York Jets. And that's just the beginning. The National Basketball Association's (NBA's) New Jersey Nets also have a home in the Continental Airlines Arena. You can be there, too, to watch them battle their way to the playoffs. "Ice on Fire" is the phrase you hear when hockey fans talk about the New Jersey Devils-the two-time Stanley Cup winners are out to make serious skating history this season. Giants Stadium also plays host to the New Jersey MetroStars, and soccer fans had the time of their lives last August when they chose the Cup name for the winner of the 2002 season in an online poll. The name?… The Liberty Cup.

Some people like their spectator sports on the "fast track" and in New Jersey the tracks are faster than ever. Thoroughbred and harness racing is the name of the game at the Meadowlands Racetrack, which is also the setting for the legendary harness racing of the famed Hambletonian Festival, or the annual Haskill Invitational Handicap at Monmouth Park Racetrack. From March through November, Allentown is a hotbed of excitement at the Horse Park of New Jersey at Stone Tavern. If the equestrian in you is calling, a trip to the Garden State Horse Show is your reward. New Jersey's largest Hunter/ Jumper horse show is a five-day event every spring. For sheer excitement, a day of thoroughbred racing at Monmouth Park will set the heart pounding. You can also thrill to the thundering hoofbeats and see horses fly at Freehold Raceway-America's "oldest and fastest daytime half-mile harness racing track."

For race fans who prefer the roar of revving engines, there is lightning fast action at the East Windsor Fairgrounds and Speedway, which also features the National Auto Racing Hall of Fame. Top drivers and awesome wheels are waiting for the flags to drop at tracks like the Atco Raceway, Wall Township Speedway and Bridgeport Speedway. Racing legends, car shows and jet ski racing are three reasons why Raceway Park in Englishtown is always blazing with action and excitement.